Sustainable management of Tanguar Haor resources: Community-based tourism as an alternative

Wetlands are important not only for their role in maintaining ecological balance and biodiversity conservation but also for their contribution in providing livelihood to a large number of people around the world. Without proper management of the wetland resources, the wetland itself can be degraded and even be ruined permanently. Tanguar Haor is one of the largest wetland ecosystems of Bangladesh that has been recognised as one of the most important wetlands not only of Bangladesh but also of South Asia. Considering its critical condition as a result of overexploitation of its natural resources, it was declared Ecologically Critical Area (ECA) in 1999. Sustainable management of wetland resources can be achieved in different ways. Community-based tourism development can be one of the smartest and most effective alternatives. Community-based tourism can certainly involve a good number of local people in tourism who would, otherwise, get involved in extracting natural resources of Tanguar Haor for their livelihood. Community-based tourism, in this way, can play a vital role in conserving nature without depriving the local community of their livelihood. In this study, potential ways for community-based tourism in Tanguar Haor has been identified and proposed for future implementation. Tourism in Tanguar Haor is seasonal in pattern, and can be divided into winter and monsoon season. The ratio of tourists as per winter and monsoon seasons is almost 7:3. Around 8 to 10 thousand tourists visit this wetland every year and most of them are researchers and bird watchers. Leisure and recreation segment of tourists will never be attracted to this destination as there has been no infrastructure developed to accommodate the tourists for their overnight stay. As a result, Tanguar Haor has a destination only for the adventurers and researchers. At the same, it indicates a huge potential for tourism development as it is yet to develop Tanguar Haor as an ecotourism destination far different from any other destinations in Bangladesh. Community-based tourism in Tanguar Haor must take place in particular zones, so that the ecosystems need not to suffer from tourism activities. In this study, some tourist zones have been identified and also the scopes for community involvement. But, CBT is not possible without direct and indirect assistance of a number of government and NGOs for policy, fund and training. This assistance and support should be an ongoing process. Otherwise, it has its every possibility to be an unsuccessful CBT. In this report, all the possible assistance and supports that CBT must be provided with by different actors including government, NGOs, and international development organizations have been identified.